Wed Jan 22 12:39:47 UTC 2025: ## JD(U) Ousts Manipur Chief After Surprise Withdrawal of Support from BJP Government

**Imphal/Patna, India** – Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) has sacked its Manipur chief, Ksh Biren Singh, after he unilaterally withdrew the party’s support from the BJP-led state government. The decision throws a wrench into the BJP’s already tenuous majority in the Manipur Assembly.

Singh, in a letter to the Manipur Governor, declared the JD(U)’s lone MLA, Md Abdul Nasir, would now sit in the opposition. However, the JD(U) swiftly countered this announcement, stating that Singh acted without consulting party leadership and that their MLA would not join the opposition.

The move is significant given the BJP’s narrow majority. While the BJP holds 37 seats, along with the support of five Naga People’s Front MLAs and three independents, the JD(U)’s defection adds to the political instability in the state. The JD(U), which secured 12 seats in the recent general elections, is a key ally of the BJP at the national level. The situation is further complicated by a pending case before the Speaker’s tribunal regarding five JD(U) MLAs who defected to the BJP after the 2022 assembly elections.

This action comes amidst a backdrop of shifting political alliances. The BJP and JD(U) are also coalition partners in Bihar, where state assembly elections are due this year. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s recent return to the NDA after previously aligning with the opposition INDIA bloc adds another layer of intrigue to the situation. The fallout of this unexpected move in Manipur remains to be seen, especially given the precarious political landscape.

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